War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says Iran is well-prepared to help resolve issues between Saudi Arabia and Yemen through peaceful means, stressing that the Islamic Republic remains steadfast in its principled position on the Yemen issue, IRNA reports.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Baqaei outlined Iran’s position on the Saudi-Yemen conflict, calling for dialogue between the two sides to resolve their differences through diplomacy.

The spokesperson said Iran has always been ready to leverage its good offices to help end the conflict and remains prepared to use all its capabilities for this purpose if requested by the two sides.

A second tanker attack was reported in the same area off Saudi Arabia, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, Anadolu reports.

The latest incident occurred at 1922GMT Friday around 78 nautical miles (144 kilometers) northeast of Al Jubayl, according to a UKMTO advisory.

The tanker’s master reported that the vessel was attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a small boat, damaging its aft port quarter.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and warned of consequences for ships violating Iranian regulations in the strategic waterway, ISNA reports.

In a statement, the IRGC said the “fate of ships violating Iranian regulations in the Strait of Hormuz is burning in the fire of the trust of the American terrorist army”.

Iran’s acting Defence Minister Majid ibn Reza says that the Iranian missiles, not US bombs, will determine the equation, the Press TV reports.

“Your bombs will explode elsewhere: in your global reputation, the US economy, and even your electoral calculations!”

National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) chief Saeid Tavakoli says that recent wars launched by the United States and the Israeli regime are contributing to the global energy crisis, calling for stronger regional cooperation to safeguard energy supplies, IRNA reports.

On recent US-Israeli strikes on facilities at South Pars, he described the attack as the largest against gas infrastructure worldwide but said Iran’s energy network had experienced no disruption.

He attributed its resilience to diversified fuel sources, varied infrastructure, experienced specialists and timely emergency responses.

Iran’s ambassador and chargé d’affaires to the United Nations in New York, Gholamhossein Darzi, says Israel’s continued aggression and destabilising activities across West Asia pose a grave threat to regional and international peace and security, IRNA reports.

Darzi urged the Security Council to act decisively to compel the regime to fully comply with its obligations under international law.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that an oil tanker had exploded and caught fire after hitting a naval mine while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reports.

The report said the tanker was carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil and was attempting to illegally transit the strategic waterway through a route unauthorised by Iran.

Two missiles landed Friday within the perimeter of the airport in the Yemeni city of Aden, the interim capital of the Saudi-backed government, authorities said, with the Houthis claiming the attack.

In a statement attributed to a military source, the Houthis said an attack targeted “the Saudi forces’ command headquarters in the Badr camp in Aden province” as well as a weapons depot.

The Yemeni army announced that it made new advances on the eastern front in Marib governorate after expanding its penetration of Houthi positions and taking control of several strategic sites, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, the army said its forces continued to exert military pressure on the Houthis and wear down their capabilities on the southern and western fronts, without specifying any newly captured positions in those areas.

The military added that it also neutralised more than 430 Houthi fighters and destroyed or disabled more than 100 military vehicles and assets within 24 hours.

Iran’s foreign ministry has rejected Saudi Arabia’s accusation that Tehran is involved in Houthi attacks on the kingdom, offering to mediate between the two sides, AFP reports.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei says in a statement.

He adds that Tehran “has always been ready to use its good offices to help end the hostilities” and remains prepared to use “all its capacities for this purpose at the request of both sides”.

The US embassy in Riyadh has urged citizens to follow national alerts released by Saudi Arabia’s Directorate of Civil Defence and to be aware of potential attacks on airports.

“US government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorisation from [the] Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the kingdom,” the embassy says in an advisory.

“US citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions,” it adds. “Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia.  We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport.”

A crude oil tanker carrying 15 Indian seafarers was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on October 16, Reuters reports citing India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Iranian Army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia says that Iran’s new “operational plans” will force US warships to retreat further away from the Middle East, according to state broadcaster Press TV.

“US military vessels had been forced to remain more than 500 kilometres from Iran’s shores,” he says, adding that no American warships are currently present in the Sea of Oman, nor have they been able to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

“American forces have been compelled to retreat to distances of more than 500 kilometres due to the capabilities and intelligence and operational superiority of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces,” Akraminia asserts.

Australia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Miles Armitage has urged Australian nationals against travelling to the kingdom due to the volatile security situation.

In a statement posted on X, Armitage says the “do not travel” restriction also applies to those travelling to the kingdom for religious purposes.

“Australians in Saudi Arabia who wish to leave should do so while commercial options remain available. If you remain in Saudi Arabia, be prepared to shelter in place at short notice and have sufficient food, water and essential supplies,” he adds.

Armitage urges Australian nationals to consider private car, train or bus options and strongly advises against travelling to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh due to recent Houthi attacks.

“Exercise extreme caution travelling to any other airports. The Houthis have threatened to target Saudi airports and airspace. Air travel is significantly disrupted at all major airports, with regular airspace closures, flight cancellations and delays,” he adds.

“If you choose to fly, reconfirm your flight before leaving for the airport and minimise your time at the airport. Further flight cancellations and disruptions could occur with little or no notice.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denies that Tehran sought nuclear weapons, has expressed readiness for dialogue and condemned US sanctions during talks with Georgia’s prime minister, AFP reports.

Pezeshkian and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze have met on the sidelines of a UN biodiversity summit in Armenia’s capital Yerevan.

“Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, and we consider the malicious propaganda against our country to be lies,” Pezeshkian says, according to a statement from his office.

“We have always been ready for dialogue. They think they can force us to surrender, but we will not bow to coercion,” he adds, calling US sanctions against Tehran “unjustifiable and inhumane”.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has welcomed a statement by members of the UN Security Council condemning attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the kingdom, Al Jazeera reports.

In remarks carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry stressed the importance of the UN statement’s provisions, including its emphasis on the importance of fully implementing Security Council resolutions against Houthi attacks on civilians and infrastructure.

It also welcomes the Security Council’s calls for practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from acquiring weapons and other support.

The Saudi-led coalition says in separate statements that it has intercepted a salvo of missiles and drones fired at Saudi Arabia.

According to coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki, a ballistic missile bound for the Red Sea city of Yanbu was intercepted.

Similarly, two cruise missiles were intercepted over the Red Sea, he adds.

Separately, Al-Maliki says three drones have been intercepted in the kingdom’s southern and Riyadh regions.

Yemeni government media outlets report that armed forces have repelled two Houthi attacks on the Dhahih and Hisn Kahlan fronts in Taiz, according to Al Jazeera.

The reports add that government forces have been engaged in clashes with the Houthis on the Jabal al-Dahhih front in the Taiz governorate’s al-Masrakh district.

Qatar will help revive Lebanon’s ailing energy sector and solve its chronic problems in providing reliable electricity, the Lebanese and Qatari prime ministers have said, AFP reports.

“We have agreed to establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation in the energy sector and to present viable solutions,” gas-rich Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a visit to Lebanon.

This is an “old project that Qatar had discussed with Lebanon… for years,” he added, saying it was now “about to see the light of day”.

Oil prices have steadied and are heading for weekly gains on uncertainty over Middle East supplies and a larger-than-expected draw from US crude stockpiles, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures are flat at $105.92 a barrel as of 1311 GMT (6:11pm PKT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures are down 22 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $97.75.

Europe is in Iran’s sights and Germany will not tolerate Iran’s hostile activities, Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul says, according to Reuters.

Iran’s acting oil minister Hamid Bovard says Tehran will respond “immediately and appropriately to any US threat to Iranian energy facilities”, Al Jazeera reports.

“The war that the United States started by ignoring international norms has affected the energy sector globally,” he states. “We will take precise and appropriate retaliatory measures at the right time to counter enemy threats.”